Pallone Pushes Passage of Bipartisan TICKET Act to Crack Down on Hidden Fees, Deceptive Ticketing Practices

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, pushed House passage of the bipartisan TICKET Act today – commonsense legislation that will bring long-overdue transparency and fairness to the live event ticketing marketplace. Pallone managed the bill on the House floor ahead of the vote, highlighting the need to end hidden fees and protect consumers from deceptive and speculative ticket sales.

“This bipartisan legislation creates a fairer and more transparent event ticketing marketplace,” Pallone said in his floor remarks. “It ends the surprise fees on tickets for concerts and sporting events that understandably frustrate consumers. With this legislation, the price you see when you are shopping for event tickets will be the price you pay, no hidden fees raising the price at checkout. This bill also prohibits companies from selling tickets they don’t have, requires refunds for events that are cancelled or postponed more than six months into the future, and cracks down on fraudulent ticketing websites. American consumers need and deserve these commonsense protections.”

Pallone played a key role in negotiating the bipartisan agreement that moved the TICKET Act through the Energy and Commerce Committee earlier this month. The legislation includes provisions Pallone originally introduced alongside his late friend and colleague, Congressman Bill Pascrell (NJ-09), as part of the BOSS and SWIFT Act. Those provisions target hidden fees, speculative ticket listings, and fake resale sites that have long plagued fans trying to buy tickets to concerts, sports events, and theater shows.

Pallone also honored Pascrell’s legacy during his floor speech: “I’m proud to have partnered with him on his longtime efforts that are included in the bill we have before us today. When the TICKET Act was on the floor last year, Bill gave an impassioned speech in support of all-in pricing and the other consumer protections in this bill.”

The TICKET Act was expected to pass last December, but Republican leadership pulled the bill from consideration after Elon Musk tweeted his opposition to the package that included the bill. Pallone criticized the move at the time and has continued pushing for action ever since.

“We had a deal to pass the TICKET Act last year as part of a broader spending agreement but that deal was blown up by a tweet from billionaire Elon Musk,” Pallone said earlier this month. “A billionaire torpedoed a bipartisan consumer protection package, and Republicans let it happen. Today’s vote moves us one step closer to finally delivering relief for fans.”

Now that the TICKET Act has passed the House, Pallone is urging the Senate to act swiftly and send the bill to the President’s desk.

“This is a big win for fans and families who just want a fair shot at buying tickets without being ripped off,” Pallone said. “It’s time to get this done.”